Balloon weight with audio recording and playback device

ABSTRACT

An audio recording and playback device is associated with a balloon to allow for the recording and playback of personalized or otherwise event-specific messages with the balloon.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention herein resides in the art of balloon devices andaccessories. More particularly, the invention relates to a balloonweight assembly adapted to be tethered to an inflated balloon inrestraint thereof. Specifically, the invention relates to a balloonweight assembly that incorporates an audio recording and playback deviceinto its design.

BACKGROUND ART

The use of balloons as gifts or “favors” or at parties, celebrations,and other events is now extremely well known. Millions of balloons areso used each year. Generally such balloons are attached to either astick and a cup or a ribbon so that they can be restrained by the user.Additionally, the balloons are typically filled with helium gas toprovide a “lift,” allowing them to stay aloft at the end of thetethered-ribbon. For safety reasons many localities require thatinflated balloons be restrained from free flight, and particular concernexists with respect to Mylar or metallic balloons, which pose a threatto electrical transmission wires, and are not biodegradable. Manymunicipalities and other governmental agencies consider such balloons topose at least some threat to the environment. Accordingly, manygovernmental agencies require that such metallic balloons be tethered toa weight, with the weight being sufficient to prevent the balloon fromfree flight into the atmosphere.

It has previously been known to employ a weight at the end of a ribbontethered to a balloon, to restrain the balloon from free flight.Although these various balloon weights exist, they generally do not addsignificant value to the balloon and weight combination product, astheir main function is to keep the associated balloon from flying away,and any sufficiently heavy item might serve such a purpose. Indeed manypotential consumers avoid purchasing balloon weights on the basis thattheir utility does not justify the expense. The competitive market forthe balloon industry compels innovative improvements that add commercialvalue to balloon weights so that they are desired for uses beyond meretethering balloons.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention advances the balloon art by providing, incombination, a balloon and a recording and playback device associatedtherewith. Means for associating the recording and playback device withthe balloon may be selected from any common means, and will mosttypically be either a ribbon (typically tied or otherwise secured to theballoon and recording and playback device) or a stem and cup assembly(or similar balloon-retaining device). Thus, in a more particularembodiment, a combination balloon and balloon weight assembly isprovided, wherein the balloon weight assembly includes an audiorecording and playback device, and the balloon is associated with theaudio recording and playback device by means selected from a ribbon anda stem.

In light of the foregoing, it is an aspect of the instant invention toprovide a balloon weight assembly comprising an audio recording andplayback device and means for associating at least one balloon with theaudio recording and playback device. The audio recording and playbackdevice might be provided as a selectively removable element of theballoon weight or might be incorporated into the balloon weight as a onepiece design. In preferred embodiments, the balloon weight might serveas a base for a stem and cup assembly or might be attached to a balloonby a common ribbon.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a balloonweight assembly for attachment to a balloon comprising a body portion, acavity defined within the body portion, and an audio recording andplayback device, separate and distinct from the body portion, said audiorecording and playback device being selectively receivable within thecavity.

The disclosed invention is an improvement over industry standard balloonweights due to its ability to provide event specific messages. Forexample, birthday greetings or holiday messages could appropriatelyaccompany (i.e., be associated with) a balloon offered as a birthdaygift or holiday decoration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a complete understanding of the objects, techniques, and structureof the invention reference should be made to the following detaileddescription and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a balloon weightaccording to this invention, wherein an audio device is press fit into acavity within a housing of the balloon weight;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the balloon weight of FIG. 1,showing the audio device in place;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the balloon weight of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a balloon weightaccording to this invention, wherein an audio device and a body portionare a single unit, and the balloon is associated with the weight by astem and cup assembly.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the FIGS. 1-3, it can be seen that a first embodimentof a balloon weight according to this invention is designated generallyby the numeral 10. Balloon weight 10 is generally includes a body 12 andan audio recording and playback device 14 (herein “audio device” foreasier reference). In a preferred embodiment, body 12 resembles a spoolhaving front flange 16, rear flange 18 and exterior radial surface 20.Although this defined body 12 is preferable because it allows forconvenient storage of a length of ribbon, the invention disclosed is notlimited to the design of FIGS. 1-3. An example of an alternate designmight include only one flange, or possibly no spool design at all. Thebody 12 is preferably molded of plastic to allow for efficientproduction of various desired shapes or decorative designs and has abody with an eyelet 22 or the like for securely receiving the end of aribbon 24 being adapted for attachment to a balloon 26.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, balloon weight 10 may be provided with aselectively removable audio device 14, although, as shown and discussedwith reference to FIG. 4, audio device 14 might actually form theballoon weight, i.e., body 12 and audio device 14 might be a singleunit. Audio device 14 can selectively provide the additional down forcerequired to restrain associated balloons from free flight. Audio device14 may be constructed in any way known in the arts and may or may not bean essential portion of the weight of the overall assembly.

The preferred embodiment of the audio device 14 includes electronicsencased in a housing 28. These electronics include a speaker 30 foraudio playback, a microphone 32 for recording sounds to an appropriateanalog or digital storage medium 34, a record button 36 for recordingsounds to the storage medium 34, and a playback button 38 for playingback the recorded sounds through speaker 30. Housing 28 would preferablycontain speaker holes 42 and microphone holes 44 through which sound maytravel. Also, raised record 36 and playback 38 buttons are preferred foreasy use. Audio device 14 is made to be associated to the balloon weight10 in any known manner. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, audio device 14is sized to create a friction or interference fit with the internal wall46 of cavity 48, in the molded body of balloon weight 10. In this way,as shown in FIG. 2, the audio device 14 may be simply pressed or snappedinto place by the user.

Audio device 14 is shown as a cylindrical disk member for sake ofsimplicity, but it will be appreciated that any appropriately shapedaudio device 14 may be employed in accordance with the confines ofcavity 48. Likewise, cavity 48 may take any appropriate shape. Audiodevice 14 may further be provided with or shaped to define openings,notches, or recesses, generally indicated by the numeral 50. Theseopenings 50 may be formed at the periphery of audio device 14. Openings50 may be located to receive or avoid items that protrude into thecavity. For instance, although not shown, radial surface 20 may includea slit for receiving ribbon therethrough and into cavity 48, where theribbon can be knotted to secure it to the body 12, and openings 50 couldbe provided to avoid the knotted portion of the ribbon. In theembodiment of FIGS. 1-3, alignment ribs 52 extend into cavity 48 andinteract with openings 50 to orient audio device 14 in a particularlydesired position. Therein, audio device 14 includes foot 54, whichprovides support to the entirety of weight 10, when properly oriented,preferably by aid of ribs 52.

As will be appreciated, the weight of either audio device 14 or body 12may be varied in a conventional manner including altering the amount ortype of material forming portions of those elements. Specifically, thematerial used for body 12 or for the various components of audio device14 may be varied, creating heavier or lighter weight assemblies, whetherof a single unit or with a removable audio device 14.

As shown in FIG. 4, another embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a balloon weight assembly that is of one piece construction.In this embodiment, the balloon weight is substantially similar to thatshown in FIGS. 1-3 and includes like numerals, but increased by 100.Functionally, balloon weight 100 serves the same main purpose as balloonweight 10, but physically, the audio device 114 and body 112 areprovided as a single unit (i.e. the audio device 114 is not selectivelyremovable from the body 112), balloon weight 100 takes a differentshape, and balloon weight 100 is associated with a balloon 126 through astem 124 and a cup assembly 160. Whereas ribbon 24 of FIGS. 1-3communicates with an eyelet 22 on body 12, stem 124 of FIG. 4communicates with a stem recess 122 in body 112.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention provides an improvedballoon weight assembly. While in accordance with the patent statutesonly the best mode and preferred embodiment of the invention has beenpresented and described in detail, the invention is not limited theretoor thereby. Accordingly, for an appreciation of the true scope andbreadth of the invention, reference should be made to the followingclaims.

1. In combination, a balloon and a recording and playback deviceassociated therewith.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein saidballoon is associated with said audio recording and playback device bymeans selected from a ribbon and a stem.
 3. The combination of claim 2,wherein said audio recording and playback device forms part of a balloonweight assembly.
 4. A balloon weight assembly comprising: an audiorecording and playback device and means for associating at least oneballoon with said audio recording and playback device.
 5. The balloonweight assembly of claim 1, further comprising a body portion retainingsaid audio recording and playback device.
 6. The balloon weight assemblyof claim 5, wherein said audio recording and playback device and saidbody are joined in a one piece design.
 7. The balloon weight assembly ofclaim 5, wherein said body includes a cavity and said audio recordingand playback device is selectively received in said cavity.
 8. Theballoon weight assembly of claim 7, wherein said audio recording andplayback device is sized to create an interference fit with at least aportion of said cavity.
 9. A balloon weight assembly for attachment to aballoon comprising: a body portion; a cavity defined within said bodyportion; and an audio recording and playback device, separate anddistinct from said body portion, said audio recording and playbackdevice being selectively receivable within said cavity.
 10. The balloonweight assembly of claim 9, wherein said audio recording and playbackdevice is sized to create an interference fit with said cavity.
 11. Theballoon weight assembly of claim 9, wherein said audio recording andplayback device includes at least one opening and said cavity includesat least one alignment rib, said opening and said alignment rib matingwhen said audio recording and playback device is received within saidcavity.
 12. The balloon weight assembly of claim 11, wherein said audiorecording and playback device includes a support foot, and said supportfoot aids in supporting the balloon weight assembly when said alignmentrib and said opening are mated.